School Governors
The Local Governing Committee (LGC) works in partnership with the Executive Team and School Leadership to deliver the vision of the Trust Board in line with the Scheme of Delegation.
Foundation Governors are appointed by the Diocese to represent the Archbishop and exercise the majority vote.
The LGC is there to be the critical friend of the school providing the right balance between supporting and challenging the performance of the Headteacher.
Minutes of meetings are available on request.
The Chair of Governors can be contacted via the school office
Governor Vacancies
Name: Governor Vacancy
Type: Foundation
Declarations of Interest on the St Oscar Romero Trust Website
Please click on the link to view the Declarations of Interest: https://oscarromero.co.uk/Declarations-of-Interest/
Chair of Governors: Conor Ferguson
Category of Governor: Foundation Governor
I am currently working at St Mathews Secondary School in Lewisham in the Science Department and previously was the KS3 Science Coordinator at St Michael’s Catholic College in Bermondsey. I teach all 3 sciences up to GCSE and A level Biology and have started teaching GCSE Astronomy this year. I am passionate about Catholic education and try to foster the gospel values both inside and outside of my classroom. I have attended Catholic schools throughout my education; Our Lady and St Philip Neri in Sydenham, St Thomas More RC Comprehensive in Eltham (where I also gained my QTS and previously taught) and Christ the King: St Mary’s in Sidcup. I studied at Queen Mary, University of London, where I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biology. My aim is to see every child succeed, regardless of their starting point and a particular interest is developing literacy, metacognitive and debating skills.
Vice Chair of Governors: Tony Holdsworth
Category of Governor: Foundation Governor
Tony was brought up in Greenwich, one of a family of seven children. After graduating from university, he worked in publishing for 15 years before re-training as a teacher at Christ Church College in Canterbury.
Tony qualified as a teacher in 1990 and taught in three Kent schools before becoming headteacher of a catholic primary school in Folkestone in 1997. He retired after 20 years at the school and now lives in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
His three sons all attended St. Anselm's Catholic Secondary School in Canterbury and Tony served as a Parent Governor of the school for four years.
Headteacher: Nicola McNelis
Category of Governor: Headteacher
Mrs McNelis was appointed as Headteacher of Notre Dame Primary School in September 2017.
Subbaraju Arava
Category of Governor: Foundation Governor
Amanda Baksh-Weston
Category of Governor: Co-opted Governor
I am a mother of three children, 2 boys who attend St. Paul's Academy and one girl who attended Notre Dame. I was born and raised a Catholic, attending Notre Dame Primary school, St. Ursula's Convent Secondary School; in Greenwich and St. Francis Xavier College in Clapham. I studied at the University of Greenwich obtaining a BSC(Hons) Mathematics, Statistics & Computing and went straight into a finance/computing post after graduating. I currently work at St. Matthew Academy, in Blackheath, an all-through catholic school (from Reception to Year 11) as the Academy Administrator. I am also a catechist at my local church,. St. Joseph's, Herbert Road, where I am preparing children for their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.
Ahunna Diana Ayi Amondi
Category of Governor: Parent Governor
I am a proud Catholic parent of two pupils of Notre Dame RC Primary School. I currently work as an Application Analyst with the London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust. It is an honour to be given this opportunity to serve as a Parent Governor of this esteemed institution. I pray and aim towards fostering the Catholic faith among school children which will mould them in every sphere of their life journey.
Petra Rodrigues
Category of Governor: Staff Governor
Having a long personal history with the school, as an ex-pupil and my own children attending here previously, has given me a great insight into what the school needs. I always strive for the best of the school and it’s pupils. I feel that this role will benefit me both personally and professionally by developing my knowledge further.
James Gacheru
Category of Governor: Parent Governor
I am currently working with the Royal Borough of Greenwich as a Mobile Technology Support Engineer. I am a father of 4, with the youngest two still at Notre Dame and the older two, 13 and 21, also Notre Dame Alumni, so we have been parents of the school for quite some time. It is therefore a pleasure and a privilege to be able to give back to the school and serve the students as a Parent Governor.
Sophie Sadler
Category of Governor: Foundation Governor
I am currently working as a Development Lead at Teach First, supporting the development of trainee teachers within various schools across East and South East London. Prior to this, I taught Religious Education exclusively in Catholic schools following gaining my PGCE (and QTS) from the University of Exeter, including being Head of Religious Education at the time of leaving the classroom. I have a BA (Hons) degree in Education and Social Sciences, with Theology and Religious Studies. Education, specifically education equality, is incredibly important to me, and I have dedicated my career to Catholic education in particular; placing emphasis on the impact on the development of the whole child and not just academically.
I also support within my parish as the Parish Safeguarding Representative, a catechist (previously having led the Confirmation programme), and am an ordained Eucharistic Minister.
Marilyn Isles-Maximea - Term of office ended
Category of Governor: Parent Governor
As Notre Dame's newest parent governor, it was an unexpected honour to be approached to support the school in this capacity.
With my two sons, in years 3 & 5, currently attending the school, I am very committed to their learning and developmental journey. I am increasingly appreciative of the support of the school and the hard work of the schools teaching and management teams.
As well as being a proud mother of 2, I am also an entrepreneur and a childcare practitioner, with a local Greenwich day-care provider. I have special responsibility for preparing our 3-4 year olds for transition to Reception class.
Qualifications to serve as a governor- Click here
What you should know about school governance at Notre Dame
The school was founded by and is part of the Catholic Church. The school is conducted as a Catholic School in accordance with the canon law and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, and in accordance with the Trust Deed of the Archdiocese of Southwark and in particular:
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religious education is to be in accordance with the teachings, doctrines, discipline and general and particular norms of the Catholic Church;
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religious worship is to be in accordance with the rites, practices, discipline and liturgical norms of the Catholic Church; and
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at all times the school is to serve as a witness to the Catholic faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our governing body plays a key strategic role in the direction of and accountability for the school, but is also part of a network of relationships which includes children and young people, parents, staff, priests, religious, the Diocese, local authority, DfE and agencies and organisations within the wider community. As a voluntary aided school the governing body is the appropriate authority.
The powers of the Governing Body
The role of our governing body is strategic. This means that it sets out:
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the aims and objectives of the school
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the vision and mission of the school
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policies and procedures by which the aims and objectives will be achieved
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criteria by which the aims and objectives will be seen to be achieved.
Our governing body also has responsibilities to agree other aspects that impact on the management of the school, including:
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Managing the school budget
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Ensuring curriculum entitlement
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Ensuring national curriculum assessments are carried out and reporting them as required
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Appointing the Head Teacher and Deputy Head Teacher and determining how other staff are appointed
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Procedures related to staff grievance, capability and discipline
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Establishing a staff appraisal system in consultation with staff
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Managing the governors’ duties in relation to pupils with Special Educational Needs.
In using these powers the governing body of our voluntary aided school acts all times in accordance with:
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The Instrument of Government for Voluntary Aided Schools
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The current School Governance and Terms of Reference Regulations
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The Trust Deed of the Diocese or religious institution which provides the school
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Provisions of Canon Law relating to schools
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Any Diocesan directive affecting schools
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Any requirement from the local authority relating to finance.
Our governing body must also act in accordance with:
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Advice and policies of the Diocese (and of the Trustees of the school if not in Diocesan trusteeship)
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Statutory Codes of Practice
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DfE guidance
